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It’s been more than eight months since Formula 1’s 2021 world championship was settled in acrimonious and controversial circumstances in Abu Dhabi.
The way Max Verstappen beat Lewis Hamilton to the title continues to polarise partisan elements of F1’s fanbase, has led to significant embarrassment (and reform) within the FIA, and caused former race director Michael Masi to lose his job.
But did circumstances in which F1 presented itself so poorly and confusingly to the world during a moment of peak sporting drama and interest actually have any lasting effect on its reputation or popularity?
Speaking to select media, including The Race, ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali argued that from a commercial perspective there has been no lasting damage.
“In terms of image, it’s like when there is a football World Cup final and there is a referee that is making a mistake and there is a penalty that is given that is not there [shouldn’t be awarded], but is there [given anyway],” Domenicali said. “I don’t think that is a damage of the reputation of the solidity of the championship, because that’s something that can happen.
“What I see is the FIA has taken seriously that fact that they want to change and improve the system. But at the end of the day the performance of all the people involved in Formula 1 has something related to his personal capability or personal skills, or personal good decisions or personal mistakes – and this is something that will be always, in every sport.
“I never ever think someone is doing something on purpose to be against someone. This is something I cannot accept, because if I would have a little doubt about it I wouldn’t be here. You can have mistakes, yes, 100%. Teams or drivers, everyone can do it, but I don’t want to judge something that could have been because of a personal vision over something that has happened [and say that] has damaged the reputation for Formula 1.
“Actually, if you look at what is the follow-up on what we are having this year, if that would be so negative I wouldn’t see the numbers so big that are coming to the races and following everywhere around the world.”
Although Verstappen has surged to an 80-point lead over Charles Leclerc in the drivers’ championship with nine races left this season, and Red Bull leads Ferrari by 97 points in the constructors’ race, Domenicali said the remaining races on F1’s 2022 calendar are sold out and therefore interest in the championship remains at record levels.
“From the commercial perspective, I would love to see another season where you arrive at the last lap of the last race [not knowing the champion], maybe with less confrontational point, because that would be terrific, that would be fantastic,” Domenicali added.
“Eighty points are a lot, but in Formula 1, also from my previous experience [as Ferrari team boss], you have to say ‘never say never’. Remember 2007, two races to go we were behind 17 points and Kimi [Raikkonen] was able to win the championship in Brazil. No one was expecting that.
“I know it’s a big number, but I don’t see why Ferrari should [not] be taking back again the fight with Red Bull. Red Bull is a very strong team, Mercedes will grow, but they [Ferrari] shouldn’t give up until the last moment because we are going to have a lot of surprise I’m sure in the second half of the season – in all dimensions: mistakes, reliability, weather conditions.
“They have to stay focused, also because we have a duty – all the grands prix from Belgium to the end are sold out – so people have already booked the tickets to come. Belgium every day will be more than 120,000 people; Zandvoort you can imagine; Monza, more than 250,000 tickets sold; Singapore sold out – that’s something that’s already reserved, so I really hope we are going to have a great second part of the season.”
